Eating habits. Not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Stay with me here for a minute as I explain.
At least three values are associated with MLK Day and they all have implications for eating habits.
Justice
Inclusion
Compassion
Justice
In the social world, justice means that everyone has equal access to … [Read more...]

Statistically speaking, we'll all fall of the Wellness Wagon by February. Resolutions be damned.
Everyone knows that New Year's Resolutions are hard to keep. It doesn't matter whether those resolutions are for yourself, or for your kids. You know what I mean. Second to I'm going to eat better this year is I'm going to get my kids to eat better this year. By February, though, … [Read more...]

Like all mothers, I want my daughter to have a happy and healthy relationship with food.
Forget new earrings. New boots. Or any of the other gifts my daughter would like to receive! The gift I really want to give my daughter is a happy and healthy relationship with food. (A small birdie tells me she'll get something she can wear too.)
The goal of teaching my daughter to be … [Read more...]

Is crust-cutting a way indulgent parents spoil their kids or is it a gift parents give their children to make them happy?
In other words, is crust-cutting caving or caring? Is it innocuous or destructive? What do you think?
Personally, I have always been a crust person. I have always loved the crust. And not just on toast. If you can think of apple peel as crust, then … [Read more...]

You'll sit there until you finish your food. Because I said so. Eat it, there are starving kids in India.
How did my mother's words get in my mouth? Granted, I haven't said these famous phrases, but plenty of my mother has rubbed off on me...even though I swore it would never happen. You?
Here's the essential question about becoming your mother: Do you give in and … [Read more...]

You know the drill: when you buy chicken nuggets you have to buy Tyson or Weaver or even Applegate Naturals. Otherwise dinner is going to be flop. Ever said, I have to buy _________?
We all have some sort of brand loyalty. There's nothing inherently wrong with it. I'm a Hellmann's mayonnaise gal. Don't even try serving me Miracle Whip. (Don't ask where that word gal came … [Read more...]

I think it's weird that Sunday, July 16th is National Ice Cream Day. In my house, every Sunday is ice cream day.
I kid you not. A number of years ago my husband, in an attempt to curb his consumption of crap, decided that he would only eat treats on Sunday. The plan worked. All week long he would look at, but not actually touch, the cookies his colleagues ate during … [Read more...]

Coca-Cola does it and it works. Kids like to see their names on stuff.
And now there's research to back up the benefit of personalizing stuff with labels. And guess what. Personalizing stuff even works for "selling" healthy drinks!
Personalizing a beverage doesn't just make unhealthy drinks like Coke more attractive. They make healthy beverages more attractive … [Read more...]